Mount Dora Council Delays Donnelly Street Makeover

MOUNT DORA -- Plans to give a stretch of Donnelly Street a makeover have been put on hold.

The City Council took a detailed look at the Donnelly Street improvement plan and, in a 4-3 vote, decided last week to return that plan to the drawing board.

The project sought to beautify and improve traffic flow on the stretch of Donnelly between Limit and Seventh avenues.

In some places, the plan would have narrowed the road, added medians and street lights, replaced sidewalks and marked out parking spaces along the road.

In addition, the grassy area between curbs and sidewalks would have been enlarged.

"The bottom line is, I just don't think it's the right time to be doing it," said council member Guy White, who voted against the plan.

According to cost estimates, the changes from Seventh Avenue to Lincoln and 13th avenues would have carried a price tag of $190,924.

"It seemed to me there was a heck of a lot of money going into that street," White said. "There's probably more projects that we can devote the money to in the city."

White also said parts of the plan could worsen traffic congestion along the street.

Council member A.J. Bogart voted to go ahead with the plan.

"I think the whole purpose of the thing is not only to improve the looks and the appearance of the approach into downtown Mount Dora, but also to improve the traffic," Bogart said. "Donnelly Street is like a four-lane highway. It's too big. It's hard to control the traffic."

Bogart said the plan likely will be reconsidered by the council early next year.

The council's vote did not affect plans to install a traffic light at Donnelly Street and Limit Avenue.